Auto Accident Treatment FAQ

Common Questions About Auto Accident Injuries at The Spine Clinic in Salem, OR

Here at The Spine Clinic in Salem, OR, our chiropractors can answer your questions and help you heal from your musculoskeletal auto accident injuries, including whiplash and lower and upper back pain, after a car accident.

What is an auto accident injury?

When you get into a car accident, your body is bounced between your seat belt and the seat. This can result in numerous invisible injuries, including whiplash,herniated discs and sprains and strains. In some instances, you may not even realize you've been injured until several days have passed.

What types of car accident injuries does your chiropractor treat?

Our chiropractor treats injuries of the musculoskeletal system, including whiplash,herniated discs, spinal misalignments (subluxations), knee, and shoulder injuries, injuries to your lower and upper back and sprains and strains.

What are the symptoms of an auto accident injury in Salem?

Your symptoms will primarily depend on where your injuries are located. For example,if you experience a shoulder injury from your seat belt during the accident, you may notice swelling, bruising, pain, and a loss of range of motion.

Blurry Vision (usually associated with whiplash)

Headaches and/or Migraines

Joint Stiffness and Loss of Range of Motion

Neck Stiffness and Pain

Numbness and Tingling in the Arms or Legs

Swelling at the Site of the Injury

Upper and/or Lower Back Pain

What is the most common car accident injury?

Whiplash most commonly occurs during car accidents, especially when the driver is rear-ended. This injury occurs due to the head and neck being forcefully whipped or jerked outside of their normal ranges of motion. This results in a severe sprain and strain of the neck.

How would I know if I have whiplash?

Whiplash causes severe neck pain and stiffness that gets worse instead of better.Additional symptoms of whiplash include severe headaches or migraines, blurry vision, sensitivity to light and sound, and upper back pain. If the inflammation is severe or you have a slipped disc, you may also experience pain, numbness and tingling in your arms.

How soon should I schedule an appointment after my car accident?

You should schedule an appointment as soon as you can after your car accident, even if you feel mostly fine. Many car accident injuries can take days to fully manifest.By getting diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, you are helping your body heal faster and potentially limiting the severity of your symptoms.

What treatments does your chiropractor offer to help treat injuries that are the result of a car accident?

Our chiropractor offers several different treatment options for car accident injuries. We may recommend chiropractic adjustments, which can help with herniated discs, joint injuries and whiplash; corrective exercises, which are designed to help you rebuild strength in injured muscles and improve flexibility while helping control your pain; and massage therapy, which is beneficial for relaxing the muscles, reducing inflammation and improving localized circulation. Additional treatment options include lifestyle advice and nutritional counseling.

How long will it take to heal my injuries?

Our chiropractor will recommend a treatment program that specifically addresses your injuries after a thorough physical examination and medical history. We may also take x-rays. While your exact treatment length will depend on your injury,most people notice an improvement after several weeks of treatments.

How do I schedule an appointment with your chiropractor in Salem?

If you've recently been in a car accident, you can schedule an appointment with our chiropractor in Salem by calling us at (503) 362-5555.